ABSTRACT
The footwear industry is a traditional industry in Portugal, representing 3.6% of the country’s national exports. In 2013, there were 1400 companies, producing 75 million pairs of shoes with a gross production value of 1824 million euro. This industry located mainly in the north, particularly in Oporto’s districts (the municipalities of Felgueiras, Vila Nova de Gaia and Lousada), Aveiro (the municipalities of Santa Maria da Feira, Oliveira de Azeméis, S. João da Madeira and Arouca) and Braga (the municipalities of Guimarães, Barcelos and Vizela) holds about 36624 workers (APICCAPS, 2014).
